Mountain Biking - SPD shoes for walking all day

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View Full Version : SPD shoes for walking all day


fatigoworld
12-31-07, 09:53 AM
first off, i have never used clipless shoes in my life so i know nothing of what to look for or to expect. everyone tells me its like night and day, so i might as well try them out. problem is that i am a bike messenger so i am on and off my bike all day....a LOT of biking...and a LOT of walking. are there any MTB shoes that are really comfortable to walk in? I am willing to sacrifice performance on the bike to gain a happy medium of comfort walking. any recommendations? thanks....


ZeCanon
12-31-07, 09:57 AM
most clipless mtb shoes are designed to be stiff, to make them more efficient. However, there are some that are designed for someone like you, who walks often and needs a softer sole.
Take a look at something like this: http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/SH303B05-Shimano+Mt21+Mtb+Shoe+08.aspx

kenhill3
12-31-07, 09:58 AM
You'll probably want to try and find shoes with the most flexible soles and the deepest cleat pocket. Sorry, I don't have any specific examples right now.


dbell@dytech.co
12-31-07, 12:14 PM
I have the cheap Shimano MT-31 shoes. I have not walked real far in them, but they seem comfortable and I am pretty confident I could walk for a ways very comfortably. They seem pretty flexible and don't click much when walking. Of course the flexibility makes them less efficient when pedaling.

ProFail
12-31-07, 03:24 PM
SIDI shoes generally are flexy compared to other MTB shoes, but they're still stiff enough to get good power.

No point in getting a flexy SPD shoe, the whole point of clipless pedals/shoes are to ELIMINATE foot bending. Pick up a pair of Bullet 2's, they're about $130 and I think you'll be happy.

DirtPedalerB
12-31-07, 10:04 PM
I have walked 4 miles in my spd shoes... they are time mxt or something like that ... I now carry a spare tube and a patch kit...

I'm also looking for some shoes that lend themselves more to hiking... I think the key would be to look for a rubber bottom rather than the fiberglass/nylon ones.

pdq 5oh
01-01-08, 08:36 AM
Fiveten and 661 make some shoes that may work for you.

BearSquirrel
01-01-08, 02:24 PM
Comfort isn't your biggest problem. Your biggest problem is your cleat scratching up the floors of the buildings you enter. There's a company out there that makes some cleat boots.

http://www.koolkovers.us/koolkovers.html. You will probably want a "hiker style" shoe with LOTS of meat to the sole. You probably be challenged by security with these.

somnambulant
01-01-08, 05:23 PM
I've been using Shimano MP-66 shoes for the past couple of years. Totally comfortable on and off the bike.. I think they're designed for the downhill/4x/etc folks.

wearyourtruth
01-01-08, 06:22 PM
there are lots of good shoes out there, i immediately thought of the ones zecanon linked.

i prefer crank bros to SPD because the cleat isn't quite so big... just a thought. they'll both work on the same shoe.

Ted Danson
01-01-08, 08:50 PM
i have those exact shoes in the link. they were my first clipless shoes and only. had them for about a year now. they are very comfortable while riding or walking, but when you are walking it seems like you are walking in high heels, you are very high off the ground when you wear these. id also suggest some dr sholes or w/e insoles you can get from walgreens and stuff. they would help with the comfort issue too.